Nathan Broadhead Ruled Out of Wales’ Nations League Campaign

Nathan Broadhead has been ruled out of Wales’ upcoming Nations League campaign after suffering a thigh injury in training with Wrexham.

The 28-year-old forward had been named in Craig Bellamy’s 28-man squad for a demanding Nations League A schedule against Portugal, Norway and a double header with Denmark. Instead, he will now sit out both the international window and Wrexham’s Championship clash with Southampton on Saturday (15:00 BST).

“Broady has strained his thigh in training, which is a shame because he was training well,” Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said. “That’s going to keep him out for the weekend but there’s nothing new from that.”

Asked directly whether the problem would also rule Broadhead out of the Wales camp, Parkinson did not hesitate: “Yes.”

It is a frustrating twist for a 20-cap international who began the season as a key part of Wrexham’s attack. Broadhead started their opening three Championship fixtures but has not featured since, missing matches against Millwall, Swansea City, Burnley and West Ham United.

For Bellamy, it removes an experienced option from a squad about to be tested by an unforgiving schedule. Wales open away to Portugal on 24 September, then head to Copenhagen to face Denmark, before returning to Cardiff to host World Cup quarter-finalists Norway on 1 October and then meeting the Danes again on 4 October.

Wales must now navigate that run without Broadhead’s movement and eye for goal, while Wrexham face Southampton knowing one of their primary forwards is back in the treatment room just as the season begins to tighten.